Chapter 355

Just as the truck thundered past, Penelope lunged forward, grabbing Norton and dragging him back from the curb.
“You coward!” she yelled, her anger boiling over. “You’re going to end your life over a few words? I’m ashamed of you!”
Norton stared at her, bewildered. “When was I going to end my life?”
“I’m older than you, so today I’m going to talk to you like an adult. Life is long. Bad things happen, things that feel impossible to accept, but eventually, they pass. And when they do, you’ll see that life is still beautiful.”
She softened her tone. “Norton, don’t give up on yourself. You are a good person. What does it matter if one person doesn’t like you? We all like you. Don’t we matter to you?”
Hearing this, Norton’s eyes filled with tears again. “Penelope, I wish you were my mom.”
“I’m not old enough to have a son your age, but I’m your friend. I’m your family.”
“Okay,” he sniffled, nodding vigorously. “But I’m actually terrified of dying. I really wasn’t going to do anything. I was just going to the flower shop across the street to buy my mom her favorite freesias.”
Penelope looked over and saw a flower shop on the other side of the road. After the vicious things Mrs. Stapleton had just said, after practically cursing him, this kid was still thinking of buying her flowers.
“Don’t buy them for her,” Penelope said, a spark of anger in her voice.
“Huh?”
“Not today, at least.”
She pulled Norton into the car and started driving toward his school. He was quiet for a while, then he suddenly started recounting funny stories from his time as an extra on the film set, laughing so hard he doubled over. Penelope watched him, watched him force himself to smile and be bright, and her heart ached.
“Why did you try on the dress?” she asked gently.
Norton was still smiling. “Just thought it looked nice,” he said casually.
“Is that a hobby of yours?”
“Of course not!”
“So why did you want to wear it?”
“Penelope is asking you a question. Tell the truth.”
He bit his lip. “One time, I was watching a historical drama with my mom. She pointed at the actress on screen and said her dress was
beautiful. She said that if ɴᴇᴡ ɴᴏᴠᴇʟ ᴄʜᴀᴘᴛᴇʀs ᴀʀᴇ ᴘᴜʙʟɪsʜᴇᴅ ᴏɴ.net
Lorrame
were still alive, she would have bought her a dress just like it and taken lots of pictures of her in it.”
“So you put on that dress to take pictures for your mother?”
“I thought… maybe it would make her happy.”
“Is that why you wear pink and keep your hair long? To make her happy?”
“When I was little, for a while, she made me grow my hair out and bought me dresses. She played with me every day, dressed me up… That was the happiest time we ever had together.”
“You are Norton. You are not Lorraine’s replacement.”
“I’m not worthy.”
“Norton!”
“But if it weren’t for Lorraine,” he whispered, “I wouldn’t exist.”
It was impossible to imagine the kind of psychological torment Norton had endured for years. And yet he was such a good kid. Be couldn’t even bring himself to hate.
She pulled up outside the school. Norton got out, head hanging low. As he started
toward the entrance, Penelope grabbed his arm.
“Who said we were going back to school?”
“I don’t have to go back?” His eyes lit up.
Penelope tapped him on the forehead. “Of course not. First, we have to blow off some steam.”
“What do you mean?”
Half an hour later, they found the group of bullies in a narrow alley, huddled together smoking. When they saw Norton, they straightened up, smirking.
“Yo, new haircut? Trying to look like a man?”
“Please. With a face like that, you’ll always be a sissy.”